Folding Idiosyncracy Observation + Hand From Today's Session (longish)

[WhiteKnight]

Weird habit I've noticed over the past while.

When some people go to muck their hands, they do so with a series of pointer finger jabs - sort of poking it away inch by inch. This seems totally nittish, like they can't bear the thought of folding when the next street would have hit them. Ever so slowly it goes forward, until the dealer finally reaches out and pulls nit's hand toward the center.

Does anybody else notice this peculiar characteristic? I find it hard to believe that a winning player would do this (indicative of a lack of confidence), so I often take it as a signal that the other guy is passive. fwiw I play 4/8 live [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I usually pick my hand up off the table after removing a silver round from it (-EV to have an easily remembered personal characteristic?), and toss my hand into the dealer's muck pile with a spin. I developed the spin technique after too many embarrassing moments where my hand ended face up on the table - the spin gives it aerodynamic stability.

I don't like when people throw their hands high in the air, I often notice the rank and/or suit of the mucked hand (because I pay attention to the game) and feel like I have an unfair advantage over others (who are talking amongst themselves and aren't privy to such things). On a related note, is it unethical to observe somebody's hand out of the corner of your eye should the opportunity present itself?

Has anybody else observed similar habits of character at the poker table? How do you normally muck your hand? Other thoughts?

$4/$8 LHE

Hero is in BB with 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
We get to see a free flop 6-handed:

6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (6 SB)
SB checks, Hero checks (?), 4 checks.

Turn comes 3 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (9 BB)
SB checks, Hero bets, Villain raises, Old Man (OM) calls, folded to Hero who calls.

River comes 6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (15 BB)
Hero checks (?), Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls, OM calls.

Hero wins 11 BB with quad sixes.
Villain shows 8 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] for a flopped boat.
Old Man mucks.

I felt reaalllly greasy as I raked in the chips. Villain was TAGish and played better than your average 4/8er, but has been running unbelievably poorly. Previously, he had AA and KK cracked within maybe five hands. He also got AdJd on a flop of 3d6dJs beat by ATs after running spades came. Incidentally, Villain started straddling after losing to quad sixes, much to the chagrin of his friend.

Old Man was probably the worst player I have ever come across in my life. He raised preflop maybe 65% of the time, and went to showdown around 95%. The funny thing was he that he was the one putting all the beats on Villain, accountable for 3 of the 4 mentioned beats. It degenerated to the point where Villain was saying things like "nice hand sir, you're obviously a way better player than me" as he lay down AA against a completed backdoor draw with digust. Old man was up to maybe $700, and by the time quads hand rolled around, it had dwindled to $150 or so. It was very nice sitting on his immediate left [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Figure8]

You played that hand terrible.

[WhiteKnight]

Likely.
With the Old Man in the hand, the set probably should have been led out on the flop. Any other improvements you'd care to share? When I mentioned the term winning player in my post, I didn't mean to imply that I am one. I have played maybe 1,750 hands at my local casino and am currently sitting at -30 BB.

[Angeleyes]

Bet the flop!

[TMTTR]

[ QUOTE ]
I find it hard to believe that a winning player would do this (indicative of a lack of confidence),

[/ QUOTE ]

FYI -- Even winning players exhibit lack of confidence in their hand when they muck their cards when facing a bet(regardless of whether they are pushed, flicked or thrown). It is a universal tell.

[BigBadBabar]

i only do the multiple flicks when the first one doesnt get the cards far enough toward the muck. it's not that i can't bear to part with the hand [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] i like the spin move sometimes too to mix it up.

[Befolder]

[ QUOTE ]
i only do the multiple flicks when the first one doesnt get the cards far enough toward the muck. it's not that i can't bear to part with the hand [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] i like the spin move sometimes too to mix it up.

[/ QUOTE ]

I also do this. My method of mucking is usually to quickly push the cards together, holding them at the long edges and flick them with my index finger towards the dealer. Occasionally, the flick fails to hit solidly and I end up having to micro push it the rest of the way. It indicates nothing other than a failed muck.

[Mr Rick]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody else notice this peculiar characteristic? I find it hard to believe that a winning player would do this (indicative of a lack of confidence), so I often take it as a signal that the other guy is passive. fwiw I play 4/8 live


[/ QUOTE ]
At 4/8 live I would assume everybody is passive until they show some aggression. And by aggression, I don't mean violently flinging their cards through the muck when they fold.

[Aces McGee]

[ QUOTE ]
My method of mucking is usually to quickly push the cards together, holding them at the long edges and flick them with my index finger towards the dealer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate the flick. Any method where you need to make multiple attempts to muck your hand is not a good one.

-McGee

[Befolder]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My method of mucking is usually to quickly push the cards together, holding them at the long edges and flick them with my index finger towards the dealer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate the flick. Any method where you need to make multiple attempts to muck your hand is not a good one.

-McGee

[/ QUOTE ]

Picking up your cards and throwing them in can go just as awry as the flick. It also adds more chance for exposure.